Shell begins production at new Geismar unit

Shell has begun production at its fourth alpha olefins unit at its chemical plant in Geismar.

The project adds 425,000 metric tons per year in capacity to the site, bringing its total production to more than 1.3 million tons per year. Startup operations began in December, according to a news release.

The expansion contains around 3,570 metric tons of steel, 18,290 meters of concrete and 85 linear kilometers of pipe. The company said several new pieces of infrastructure were built, including a new water cooling tower, an expansion of the site’s rail loading capabilities and the repurposing of an idle tank farm.

The Geismar site is supported by Shell’s manufacturing sites in Norco and Deer Park, Texas. Alpha olefins are used in products such as laundry detergent, motor oils and soap.

“Our team delivered this world-class expansion project safely, on time and within budget,” Graham van’t Hoff, executive vice president for Shell’s global chemicals business, said in a statement. “This is a key growth project for Shell’s global chemicals business. Geismar will continue to play a leading role in providing the materials for products that an increasing number of people need and enjoy.”